Using points for Y flights

[Grrr]

Just after a sanity check here...

I'm looking at flying the family (4 all adult fares) to NZ. Short flight so I don't need J

Paying cash for my dates is $4230 return (EK then VA)

Using MR I can send points to the respective programs (and already have some ready to go)
So I can use ~200k points and $736
Or ~150k points and $1300

Am I 'wasting' these points on economy class ? Should I save them for some hypothetical Y flights next year (nothing remotely planned yet) ? Or is this a good deal ?

 

[sudoer]

200k MR to save $3500 is good enough in my book.

 

[Bell21]

Do you mean 200K MR points - ie, 100K QFF (EK codeshare) / VFF points?

I wouldn't hestiate to use 200K MR points to save $3,500 --- it's a strong use of points (I work on the is it 2c/points or more, especially when booking for eg, 4, as the overall $ value you're saving is significant too)

 

[Grrr]

Do you mean 200K MR points - ie, 100K QFF (EK codeshare) / VFF points?

200k of airline points, so a bit more in MR (messy conversions as I have overseas Amex too)

Thanks all for the sanity check, I’ll go ahead (assuming seats are still there !!)

 

[Bell21]

That's a bit more marginal --- circa 1.75c / point - it's a bit of a toss up - probably depends how much you're likely to use those points for J flights in future VS how much you want to save the $3500 - YMMV

IMO (for my purposes), I'd probably go with the 150,000 points option, as it looks better value overall on the numbers you've provided

For clarity, I'm working on Australian MR conversion to airlines - obviously, the value might change with different conversions potentially.

 

[Grrr]

That's a bit more marginal --- circa 1.75c / point - it's a bit of a toss up

Bugger just realised I dumped most of my overseas MR points in another airline scheme a month ago anticipating a different trip which didn't eventuate... and the Aus MR to EK conversion is quite cough (3:1)

So current calculation is 100k airline points to save $1600 - as you say line ball

 

[Bell21]

Bugger just realised I dumped most of my overseas MR points in another airline scheme a month ago anticipating a different trip which didn't eventuate... and the Aus MR to EK conversion is quite cough (3:1)

So current calculation is 100k airline points to save $1600 - as you say line ball

Ouch - I don't love it, but sometimes, it's also about the overall $ you're saving too and timing of doing that.

The Aus MR to EK conversion is not great when you also combine it with their surcharges...

Maybe consider lower points option?

 

[Grrr]

Maybe consider lower points option?

50k airline points + $600 vs $1600 outright…

 

[Bell21]

if I understand what you mean correctly, you're saying you can use an extra 50,000 airline points to save an extra $1,000 - that's worth it potentially, albeit the whole use of points on the flights appears, as we've discussed, a bit line-ball.

 

[Grrr]

if I understand what you mean correctly, you're saying you can use an extra 50,000 airline points to save an extra $1,000 - that's worth it potentially

Yep, it’s 50k airline points + $600, or 100k points alone

Flight is $1600 cash

I was considering using the 100k points, as I’m also background worried about points devaluation if I don’t use them…

 

[Bell21]

That's fair - it also depends if you think you think you'll really use them for other J flights in the near future.